Plenty of news reports etc regarding the prospects for 2015 rail fares in the UK....."don't price us off them".."How to beat the rises".....
For more details and reactions...
Click on the links...
Headlines
UK
Christian Wolmar: Londoners need railways — don’t price us off them .(London Evening Standard)
Regulated rail fares to increase by 3.5% in 2015.(BBC News)
Labour and transport campaigners step up rail fares fight as prices rise again.(The Guardian)
How to beat the train fare rises.(The Telegraph - video)
Train fares ‘will increase 25% in next four years’ unless funding rules are torn up: Labour call for cap on price rises and simplified ticket structure.(Mail Online)
Commuters will save hundreds when we end fares ‘flex’, claim Labour.(London Evening Standard)
Shortlist for Northern and TransPennine Express rail operators revealed.(The Business Desk)
Cambridge-Oxford rail link report promises 600,000 jobs.(BBC News)
'Q Trains' carrying police to be deployed to tackle rail vandals.(The Telegraph)
Surrey and Essex sloping platform risk 'not recognised'.(BBC News)
Committee publishes report into the Major Projects Authority(www.parliament.uk)
Public Accounts Committee publishes its report into the Major Projects Authority as Tenth Report of Session 2014-15, HC 147.
The Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP, Chair of the Committee of Public Accounts, today said:
"We support the work of the Major Projects Authority and welcome the progress it has made so far, but without stronger powers it is unlikely to achieve its aim of a systemic improvement in project delivery across government.Continue reading...
"The projects in the MPA’s portfolio represent a huge and rising cost to the taxpayer. In May 2014 the total cost over the lifetime of these projects was estimated at £488 billion, an increase of some £134 billion on the previous year. The portfolio includes high-profile and extremely challenging projects such as Universal Credit and the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier programme.
"However, the MPA only has informal influence over departments. It supports the Treasury in approval and funding decisions but there is no obligation on the Treasury to follow its recommendations. It has no powers if a department decides to proceed with a project against MPA advice.
Network Rail Press Release
West Coast main line reopens ahead of final August closure this bank holiday weekend
The West Coast main line reopened on time today (18 August) after Network Rail successfully completed the second successive weekend of upgrade work at Watford.
Over the weekend and into Monday more than 300 track workers and engineers continued work to replace and install new sections of railway and parts of the new modern signalling system in the area.
With the final August closure happening over the bank holiday weekend, passengers are being urged to plan their journeys and check before they travel.
The railway will be closed between Saturday 23 and Monday 25 August, reopening on Tuesday 26 August.
The bank holiday weekend closure will affect passengers from across parts of Scotland, the West Midlands and the north west who plan to travel to London along the West Coast main line and means alternative routes will have to be used to travel in and out of London.
Jim Syddall, acting route managing director for Network Rail, said: “A huge amount of work has been completed over the last two weekends but there is still a significant amount left to do over the August bank holiday weekend.
“The section of track at Watford is one of the most intensively used, high-speed pieces of railway in Britain and has seen tremendous growth in traffic and passengers over the last five years.
“There is never a good time to close the railway and we apologise for the inconvenience caused but this work is essential to maintain reliable train services for the millions of passengers who travel on this route every year.
“We have worked with all our industry partners to provide passengers with information in advance and will continue to during the work to minimise disruption as much as possible.”
The August closures follow the May Day weekend closure earlier this year and are part of eight weekend and bank holiday closures which will take place until April 2015. Significant upgrade work is being carried out to improve reliability and punctuality along this section of the railway.
To complete the work, more than 21,000 tonnes of stone ballast will be used, more than 28,000 tonnes of waste will be removed from the site and 11,000 new railway sleepers will be installed as part of nine miles of track renewals.
Network Rail is working closely with the train operating companies who will provide alternative routes in and out of London for passengers.
Although alternative arrangements will be in place, journey times will be considerably longer and passengers are being advised to avoid travelling to and from London on the West Coast main line during the closures if travel is not essential.
Terry Oliver, London Midland's head of west coast services, said: "My advice would be to use an alternative train route where possible. London Midland has arranged for its tickets to be accepted by selected operators to allow passengers to do this.
"If you need to travel along the affected route during the closures, remember to allow plenty of time, plan ahead and check before you travel.
"We have worked to minimise inconvenience and we will continue to update passenger information. Staff will be at stations along the closed route to provide assistance."
Phil Bearpark, operations and customer service director for Virgin Trains, said: "We understand that improvement works can have a big impact on passengers and strongly advise customers to check their journey in advance and allow extra time if necessary.
“We have worked closely with Network Rail and industry partners to ensure alternative travel arrangements are in place and to keep disruption to a minimum whilst this important work is carried out.”
In all cases, Virgin Trains’ customers will need to use an alternative train operator for journeys to and from London. Those that have access to other routes via Chiltern Railways, East Midlands Trains and East Coast are being encouraged to use these instead. Southern services will also be impacted.
As part of a joint passenger campaign, travellers should use National Rail Enquiries to check and plan their journey if they have to travel during this time using: www.nationalrail.co.uk/Watford.
Work will also be taking at London Bridge station over the bank holiday weekend. The station is being rebuilt in phases as part of the Thameslink Programme which is improving north-south rail links across London. From Saturday 23 to Sunday 31 August, major reconstruction work at the station will mean no First Capital Connect or Southern services will be able to call at London Bridge. London Bridge Underground station will not be affected. For further information visit www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk
2014:
Saturday 3 May to Monday 5 May (completed)
Saturday 9 August to Monday 11 August (completed)
Saturday 16 August to Monday 18 August (completed)
Saturday 23 August to Monday 25 August
Wednesday 24 December to Monday 29 December
2015:
Saturday 14 February to Monday 16 February
Saturday 21 February to Monday 23 February
Friday 3 April to Tuesday 7 April
Network Rail had originally planned a 16-day closure in August 2014 and nine-day closure in February 2015. However after feedback from key stakeholders, this strategy was revised to eight weekend and bank holiday closures resulting in less disruption for passengers using the West Coast main line.
In the past 15 years the number of trains using the West Coast main line has doubled – increasing the pressure and wear and tear on the infrastructure. As Network Rail works with the train operating companies to increase capacity on the railway, investment in the Watford area is essential to accommodate the increasing demand.
During the work, all signalling between Kings Langley and Bushey will be renewed and more than 15km of new track will be laid. Modifications will be made to the overhead line equipment to make it more reliable and Orphanage Road bridge will be replaced to allow for future line speeds of 125mph.
====================================================================With the final August closure happening over the bank holiday weekend, passengers are being urged to plan their journeys and check before they travel.
The railway will be closed between Saturday 23 and Monday 25 August, reopening on Tuesday 26 August.
The bank holiday weekend closure will affect passengers from across parts of Scotland, the West Midlands and the north west who plan to travel to London along the West Coast main line and means alternative routes will have to be used to travel in and out of London.
Jim Syddall, acting route managing director for Network Rail, said: “A huge amount of work has been completed over the last two weekends but there is still a significant amount left to do over the August bank holiday weekend.
“The section of track at Watford is one of the most intensively used, high-speed pieces of railway in Britain and has seen tremendous growth in traffic and passengers over the last five years.
“There is never a good time to close the railway and we apologise for the inconvenience caused but this work is essential to maintain reliable train services for the millions of passengers who travel on this route every year.
“We have worked with all our industry partners to provide passengers with information in advance and will continue to during the work to minimise disruption as much as possible.”
The August closures follow the May Day weekend closure earlier this year and are part of eight weekend and bank holiday closures which will take place until April 2015. Significant upgrade work is being carried out to improve reliability and punctuality along this section of the railway.
To complete the work, more than 21,000 tonnes of stone ballast will be used, more than 28,000 tonnes of waste will be removed from the site and 11,000 new railway sleepers will be installed as part of nine miles of track renewals.
Network Rail is working closely with the train operating companies who will provide alternative routes in and out of London for passengers.
Although alternative arrangements will be in place, journey times will be considerably longer and passengers are being advised to avoid travelling to and from London on the West Coast main line during the closures if travel is not essential.
Terry Oliver, London Midland's head of west coast services, said: "My advice would be to use an alternative train route where possible. London Midland has arranged for its tickets to be accepted by selected operators to allow passengers to do this.
"If you need to travel along the affected route during the closures, remember to allow plenty of time, plan ahead and check before you travel.
"We have worked to minimise inconvenience and we will continue to update passenger information. Staff will be at stations along the closed route to provide assistance."
Phil Bearpark, operations and customer service director for Virgin Trains, said: "We understand that improvement works can have a big impact on passengers and strongly advise customers to check their journey in advance and allow extra time if necessary.
“We have worked closely with Network Rail and industry partners to ensure alternative travel arrangements are in place and to keep disruption to a minimum whilst this important work is carried out.”
In all cases, Virgin Trains’ customers will need to use an alternative train operator for journeys to and from London. Those that have access to other routes via Chiltern Railways, East Midlands Trains and East Coast are being encouraged to use these instead. Southern services will also be impacted.
As part of a joint passenger campaign, travellers should use National Rail Enquiries to check and plan their journey if they have to travel during this time using: www.nationalrail.co.uk/Watford.
Work will also be taking at London Bridge station over the bank holiday weekend. The station is being rebuilt in phases as part of the Thameslink Programme which is improving north-south rail links across London. From Saturday 23 to Sunday 31 August, major reconstruction work at the station will mean no First Capital Connect or Southern services will be able to call at London Bridge. London Bridge Underground station will not be affected. For further information visit www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk
Notes:
The confirmed dates for work on the West Coast main line at Watford are:2014:
Saturday 3 May to Monday 5 May (completed)
Saturday 9 August to Monday 11 August (completed)
Saturday 16 August to Monday 18 August (completed)
Saturday 23 August to Monday 25 August
Wednesday 24 December to Monday 29 December
2015:
Saturday 14 February to Monday 16 February
Saturday 21 February to Monday 23 February
Friday 3 April to Tuesday 7 April
Network Rail had originally planned a 16-day closure in August 2014 and nine-day closure in February 2015. However after feedback from key stakeholders, this strategy was revised to eight weekend and bank holiday closures resulting in less disruption for passengers using the West Coast main line.
In the past 15 years the number of trains using the West Coast main line has doubled – increasing the pressure and wear and tear on the infrastructure. As Network Rail works with the train operating companies to increase capacity on the railway, investment in the Watford area is essential to accommodate the increasing demand.
During the work, all signalling between Kings Langley and Bushey will be renewed and more than 15km of new track will be laid. Modifications will be made to the overhead line equipment to make it more reliable and Orphanage Road bridge will be replaced to allow for future line speeds of 125mph.
Spring 2015 at the Ironstone Quarry
Rescheduled from Aug 2014
We unfortunately clashed with a number of events on our initial proposed date so this has now been rescheduled to Saturday 21st March 2015
Return to Woody Bay
Lyd returns for 29th September 2014
As always a very big thank you for all your support . Without it these events can't run and as always we look forward to welcoming you on an event in 2014 . Places can be reserved by e-mail . Cheques made payable to 30742 Charters and sent to 20 Portia Avenue, Shirley, Solihull , B90 2NW or payments accepted via PayPal ===============================================================Labour must scrap HS2 to avoid a rail disaster..an opinion. (The Times)
Australia
High-speed rail may receive Japanese backing.(Business Spectator)
Netherlands
NS to acquire stake in Thalys?(IRJ)
Russia
Luxury Rail Travel For Kiev to Moscow
(Russian Railways on YouTube)
NTD TV about a new luxury hotel train going from Kiev to Moscow, high client services level and best comfort conditions.
USA
Transportation Research Board.
Transportation for Sustainability– An International Conference
TRB is sponsoring the Transportation for Sustainability –International Conference conference on May 7-8, 2015 in Washington, D.C. The conference is designed to draw attention to the global and international aspects of transportation and sustainability, including problems of transportation and sustainability that are common to many nations.
The conference will provide an opportunity to showcase state-of-the-art solutions that can be applied in the United States and other countries; address sustainability and international relations that arise when transportation modes cross country borders; and highlight issues of global sustainability related to transportation that may be hard to effectively address because of a lack of knowledge and research capacity.
The program will include technical discussions on sustainable practices and interactive sustainability problem-solving, and feature a plenary session that will likely include senior level policy makers, corporate executives, and leading subject matter experts.
The conference will provide an opportunity to showcase state-of-the-art solutions that can be applied in the United States and other countries; address sustainability and international relations that arise when transportation modes cross country borders; and highlight issues of global sustainability related to transportation that may be hard to effectively address because of a lack of knowledge and research capacity.
The program will include technical discussions on sustainable practices and interactive sustainability problem-solving, and feature a plenary session that will likely include senior level policy makers, corporate executives, and leading subject matter experts.
www.progressiverailroading.com
Other Railway Press
GE highlights locomotives, signalling and data at InnoTrans - Railway Gazette
www.railwaytechnology.com
Perth's Butler rail station to open on 21 September
Western Australia's Transport Minister Dean Nalder has announced that the extension of Butler rail station in Perth is set to open on 21 September.
Rejlers to support Jernbaneverket's rail expansion in Norway
Rejlers Norway has secured a contract to serve as the project support for the Norwegian National Rail Administration, Jernbaneverket, as part of the country's InterCity railway expansion.
Two dead in Union Pacific freight train crash in Arkansas
Two crew members were killed when two Union Pacific (UP) freight trains carrying toxic chemicals collided head-on in Lawrence County, Arkansas, US.
Midland Metro to introduce new CAF Urbos 3 trams in September
West Midlands transport authority Centro will introduce the first of a £40m fleet of new Midland Metro trams on 5 September on the route between Wolverhampton and Birmingham, UK.
SmartRail World
OPINION: How the UK rail network can become the transport of choice, rather than a last resort.
Today SmartRail World Guest Contributor Professor Andrew McNaughton, FREng and Technical Director for HS2 sets out his vision for the future of Britain’s railways using best practice examples from around the world ahead of the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s 2014 Sir Henry Royce Memorial Lecture* in London this September...
"Outside of commuting, the vast majority of people in Britain today don’t use the railway that often – if at all. “Is it the transport of last resort or the transport of choice?” is a wonderful phrase that has often been used, and looking at the results of PwC’s most recent consumer survey, the answer would be last resort.
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